Years of service 1862 - 1865 | Died April 22, 1922 Name William D. | |
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Place of burial Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Unit 48th Pennsylvania Infantry | ||
Surgeon William Robert Douglas Blackwood (12 May 1838 to April 26, 1922) was an Irish soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Blackwood received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Third Battle of Petersburg in Virginia on 2 April 1865. He was honored with the award on 21 July 1897.
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Biography
Blackwood was born in Hollywood, Ireland on 12 May 1838. He immigrated to the United States and studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In September 1862 he enlisted into the 149th Pennsylvania Infantry as an Assistant Surgeon but was later transferred to the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry on April 28, 1863 where he was promoted to Chief Surgeon of the regiment.
During the Third Battle of Petersburg when Fort Mahone was being attacked, Blackwood assisted several seriously wounded soldiers from the battlefield. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics. He died on 26 April 1922 and his remains are interred at the Chelten Hills Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Medal of Honor citation
Removed severely wounded officers and soldiers from the field while under a heavy fire from the enemy, exposing himself beyond the call of duty, thus furnishing an example of most distinguished gallantry.
Family
William Robert Douglas Blackwood was born in Hollywood, Ireland on May 12, 1838 to Robert Blackwood and Victoria Douglas.
Dr. Blackwood married Ida Chote Gerhart in 1874, and had four children.